OEM Subtank Retrofit/Install Project With Pics (42 Viewers)

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Nice work on the install Jim - you really went all out by going OEM for everything!

FYI to any-one in the US - I have an OEM 13gal petrol subtank FOR SALE - see sig.

Thanks! Keith.
 
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WE made a video for this subtank installation. The only thing that doesn't work is the compass. We are waiting for the gentlemen from Aussie to come from the military. He is going to take apart his truck apart to compare wiring with us. Thank you Jim all of the help.
Regards
http://www.facebook.com/v/167864334592
 
I just came home to two boxes from Australia sitting on my doorstep. That's right my factory subtank set-up has arrived.

If any of you here in the US or Canada have a Fuel Transfer ECU laying around... let me know.

Here are the pics.
IMG00184-20091019-1815.webp
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IMG00186-20091019-1816.webp
 
And now for the switch and wiring. I got the stock wiring from the Oz harness with the plug for the switch. However, he already sold the switch so I got this one from someone else. Notice the harness has 6 terminals and the switch has 7.

I hope I have the correct switch or can just add a terminal to the harness. I was told that this switch came from a gasser.
IMG00200-20091019-1824.webp
IMG00199-20091019-1823.webp
IMG00201-20091019-1824.webp
 
Where did you guys get your rivnuts for the sub tank mounting straps? Do you have any pics of the rivnut install and the holes that you drilled in the floor?

CDan gave me mine from the last of his personal stock, but you can get them here:

McMaster-Carr

You want the "Open End Knurled Rivet Nuts." I don't recall what size, but I think the bolt heads on mine were 14mm.

FYI there is also a trick to installing these things that involves two wrenches and a bolt to collapse the nut while its in the mounting hole. Search around and you should find this on the web, example:Metal skid plate installation VW

Otherwise you will have to buy the tool. Also, the body ribs where these are mounted are very thin like the floorpan so you only get one good shot, so make it count.
 
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Thanks elmariachi. Do you happen to have any photos of the cargo floor after you put the rivnuts in?

Also, has anyone used carriage bolts with the nuts on the underside of the body to mount their tank or welded nuts to the interior of the cargo area?

Just exploring options.
 
Thanks elmariachi. Do you happen to have any photos of the cargo floor after you put the rivnuts in?Just exploring options.

Sam, you might want to crawl under the truck and look around. The rivnuts don't go into the floor, they go into two longitudinal u-channel ribs stake-welded up against the floorpan.

Here are some good pics and commentary from George Scalero:

Auxiliary tank

Its not the most robust arrangement, so anyone who can engineer a better mousetrap, it might be worth it.

Jim
 
On a side note the rivnuts I used were slightly (Not by much at all) longer than the ones every one else seems to use. I had a hell of a time getting the Rivnuts to collapse in to place using the bolt/washer/nut/washer/nut method. I found it easier to use about 8 slightly oversized regular washers on a bolt and just torque it down. The rivnut collapsed in seconds.
 
Thanks for that thread Jim. Unfortunately, my truck is in the shop getting a new head but I will look at it when I get it back tomorrow. Those links answered my question about the holes for the subtank straps but created more ?'s about the correct size rivnuts & the holes for the fuel transfer assembly bracket.

(See pic borrowed from this thread Auxiliary tank)

Did you do this on your install? If so, did you put the bolt heads on the interior floor & the nut on the bottom side?
 
On a side note the rivnuts I used were slightly (Not by much at all) longer than the ones every one else seems to use. I had a hell of a time getting the Rivnuts to collapse in to place using the bolt/washer/nut/washer/nut method. I found it easier to use about 8 slightly oversized regular washers on a bolt and just torque it down. The rivnut collapsed in seconds.

Any idea on what size "everyone else is using"?
 
Thanks JP. There is no 12 thread listed as an option for an M8 on the link that Jim provided above to McMaster-Carr . Did you mean a 1.25 thread?

So based upon the pics in George's thread, are you guys using the Steel, Open-End Knurled Rivet Nuts that are Zinc Yellow Chromate Plated?

If so, these are the only two that they source in the M8, 1.25 thread. http://www.mcmaster.com/#rivet-nuts/=4hkxcr

Any idea what the combined thickness of the metal there is (see pic below)? There are two listed.

Rivet Material Thickness Range Part # Price
0.7 mm - 3.8 mm 95105A191 $4.89 per Pack of 10 http://www.mcmaster.com/#95105a191/=4hm8oq
3.8 mm - 7.9 mm 95105A195 $5.29 per Pack of 10 http://www.mcmaster.com/#95105a195/=4hm7o0

Here are a few pictures from their website just to confirm that these are exactly what is needed.
materialthickness.gif
95105a115_fam.gif
 
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Well the rivetnuts/nutserts arrived from McMaster-Carr and the don't fit into the holes pre drilled by Mr. T for the forward subtank mounting straps. I know JPHockerAZ said he used .495 diameter rivnuts and elmariachi said he used McMaster-Carr but they only have 13.5mm (.531) diameter rivetnuts in M8 & M10. Their 5/16, 3/8 & 1/2 are 17/32in diameter which equals .531 or 13.5mm.

Any suggestions as to other vendors?

Or should I just file the holes out just a bit so the 13.5mm diameter ones fit?
 

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